The government has kickstarted the process to allow passengers on public transport to pay by debit and credit card. The Transport Secretariat said the new feature would make it easier to take public transport by giving users the freedom to choose how to pay. 

The change was published in the official bulletin on Tuesday.

Presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni announced the plans in April, but did not give a timeline. He said at the time that the initiative would systematize public transport across the country, since the SUBE system has not been set up in some areas.

“From today, we will start the necessary processes to enable use of debit and credit cards, digital wallets and banking apps,” the Transport Secretariat said on Tuesday. A spokesperson for the secretariat confirmed to the Herald that passengers will be able to pay with foreign debit and credit cards. 

Passengers will still be able to pay with SUBE cards. The two payment systems will exist side by side. 

The ministry added that the change “doesn’t bring any extraordinary expenditures,” and will be funded by private companies that want to become a payment option.

In recent years, shortages of the materials used to make SUBE cards led to shortages of the cards themselves. This caused problems for passengers because they are currently the only way to pay for public transport in most cities. In 2023, the last government started testing ways for users to pay transport fares on their phones.

A plan for early 2025

The transport secretariat aims to roll out the system nationwide. The first trial will take place in September in two cities in Argentina’s provinces (the government has not specified which). Turnstiles on the Buenos Aires Subte and the Urquiza train line, which runs from the capital’s Federico Lacroze station to the north-western suburbs, will be updated in November and December.

The government estimates that, by early 2025, the 30,000 bus lines in the country will have their systems and equipment updated.
In the meantime, SUBE cards are available at certain kiosks, subway stations, and stores that sell lottery tickets. They cost AR$880 (US$0.94 at the official rate, US$0.66 at the MEP rate). There’s a map of all the places that sell them here. If you can’t find one, you can also buy them online and either have them delivered or pick them up at one of the places that sells them.